Pigeons

Pigeons

Pigeons are stout-bodied birds with short necks, and have short, slender bills. Doves feed on seeds, fruits, and plants. pigeons build relatively flimsy nests from sticks and other debris, which may be placed in trees, on ledges, or on the ground. Pigeons reuse their nests many times, Usually the nests are situated on houses, barns, buildings, bridges and cliffs. Pigeons can fly 50–60 miles per hour. In most cities pigeons stay close to home because they do not like to migrate. Pigeons are considered disease-spreading birds, a pest. As pigeons breed throughout the year and reproduce quickly- this determined by amount of food available to them. In the past, pigeons were involved in transmitting the “bird flu” or “avian flu” but they do not carry deadly diseases like H1N1. Pigeons do not transmit diseases through their immune system but human contact with pigeons like cleaning pigeon droppings can cause a small health risk. Some diseases that are thought to be caused by pigeon’s dropping are histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and psittacosis.